Chicago Truck Accident Law Firms

Holding Negligent Truck Drivers and Companies Responsible

Who Is Liable for My Truck Accident Injuries in Chicago, Illinois?

Chicago truck accident law firms need to be well-versed in Illinois law to know who is liable in a truck accident. At Burger Law, we have the experience and knowledge necessary to determine and prove negligence and hold liable parties accountable. Some of the parties truck accident law firms investigate in Chicago and Illinois include a truck driver, another driver, a trucking company, a shipping company, a manufacturer or a mechanic.

The Truck Driver or Anther Driver | Chicago Truck Accident Law Firms

In its landmark large truck crash causation study, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that "driver reasons" accounted for the main cause in 87 percent of trucking accidents nationwide. If a Chicago or Illinois truck driver's negligent or reckless driving causes you injury, truck accident law firms will look to hold them responsible. Examples of driver error include:

• Speeding or driving too fast for weather conditions
• Drunk driving or drug impaired driving
• Not accounting for road conditions
• Overcompensating for road conditions
• Making illegal maneuvers
• Distracted driving, such as:
  • Texting and driving
  • Looking at directions
  • Eating or drinking
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Being preoccupied or daydreaming
  • Looking at something on the side of the road

Truck drivers speed and drink and drive far less than other motorists; however, there will unfortunately always be Chicago or Illinois truck drivers out there that break the rules of the road and disregard your well-being. When they do, the repercussions can be disastrous. If a negligent Illinois truck driver caused you injuries, the Burger Law truck accidents lawyer team in Chicago will hold them accountable and ensure you collect the best possible financial recovery.

However, the Large Crash Causation Study found that most driver-caused truck crashes were caused because of errors by a passenger car driver, not the truck driver. The best truck accident law firms, such as Burger Law, will conduct a thorough investigation into your claim and see if another Chicago driver was responsible for your injuries.

The Trucking Company | Chicago Truck Accident Law Firms

Trucking companies also have an obligation to look out for our safety. They must:

• Hire drivers that meet the strict requirements for Commercial Driver's Licenses in Illinois. Not doing so, or hiring a driver with a history of traffic violations, amounts to negligent hiring practices.
• Ensure the safety of their vehicles. Illinois and Federal Law requires pre-trip and yearly inspections carried out by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not carrying out inspections or not repairing defective components are examples of negligence. Brake problems were an associated factor in 27 percent of trucks in trucking accidents, contrasted with just 2 percent in cars.
• Not overwork their drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a Hours of Service Guide for Truck Drivers that must be adhered to. Thirteen percent of trucking accidents involved driver fatigue as an associated factor, often because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive of little rest.

Chicago truck accident law firms should request maintenance and driver logs when handling a truck accident case. Burger Law knows how to get all the evidence we need to prove your case.

A Shipping Company | Chicago Truck Accident Law Firms

Cargo must be properly loaded onto trucks in order to ensure safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unequal weight distribution are prone to rollover accidents. Improperly loaded cargo can also spill onto Chicago or Illinois streets and cause a multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also have increased stopping times which limits the driver's ability to respond to conditions or hazards on the road.

Mechanics or Manufacturers | Chicago Truck Accident Law Firms

Manufacturers have an obligation to safely design and test their products and recall any components when they find it to be dangerous or defective. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a recall is necessary when a vehicle or vehicle equipment "does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard." Failure to do so is product liability. Burger Law has seen every type of personal injury case and knows how to win you maximum compensation regardless of the circumstances of your truck crash injury.